Schatz is the incumbent U.S. Senator. Hanabusa, a U.S. Representative, is the challenger.

Both Schatz and Hanabusa are democrats and agree on a lot of important issues: developing renewable energy, native Hawaiian self-determination and even the influence of the late Senator Daniel Inouye.

Early in the debate though they started to show their differences.

Schatz wholeheartedly supports President Barack Obama, Hanabusa has some reservations.

"I'm proud to stand shoulder and shoulder with him. I am one of his strongest allies in the Senate," stated Schatz.

"Where I have parted with the President is with Syria and Iraq and that he invoked the war powers act, just recently in his actions in Iraq," stated Hanabusa.

The candidates also disagreed over the issue of national security, brought to light by Edward Snowden.

"I was against the reauthorization of the foreign intelligence act, known as FISA, and it was for one simple reason: it did not protect our privacy within the confines of the Fourth amendment. I don't believe FISA was being administered properly and the surveillance state has gone off the edge," stated Schatz.

"Brian, you have to start to read the bills to really understand what you're talking about. You didn't vote to end FISA, you voted to give the president unlimited power -- just like George Bush and Chaney," stated Hanabusa.

Then the gloves really came off as the candidates got a chance to ask questions to each other.

"Colleen, in 2013 you voted to require the use of the Simpson-Bowles budget plan. Senior citizens and labor groups criticized this because it would do the following: Cut social security and raise the retirement age, cut medicare benefits...Do you regret this vote or stand by it?" questioned Schatz.

"You again misstate what I did and what a vote is," countered Hanabusa.

"Colleen, you didn't answer the question because you took a bad vote," said Schatz.

One of the biggest moments of the debate came from a question that didn't even get an answer. A question about Schatz's chief of staff Andy Weiner and Weiner's involvement in a different election campaign to keep former governor Ben Cayetano from being elected as Honolulu Mayor.

"What did you know about Andy's deplorable smear as you call it and when did you know it?" asked Hanabusa.

In addition to criticizing each other, each of the candidates got a chance to point out something positive their opponent has done for the state.

"I think one of the things she did well was convene the Felix consent decree special investigative committee that proved to be useful for state government in terms of getting our arms around spending that was a little out of control," said Schatz.

"The one thing I admire about Brian is he is a survivor. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress and he managed to come back as the head of the Democratic Party. Then he won as Lt. Governor and then he convinced Neil Abercrombie that he should be appointed to the U.S. Senate. That's an amazing feat. One vote created somebody as the United States Senator for the state of Hawaii. That is something you gotta admire," said Hanabusa.

A defining debate for a pair of Congressional candidates. This evening LIVE on KITV, Hawaii viewers got their first chance to see Colleen Hanabusa and Brian Schatz debate their differences. Schatz is the incumbent U-S Senator, Hanabusa, a U-S Representative is the challenger for the Senate seat. Tonight they not only shared their views, they also took aim at one another. KITV's Paul Drewes has our top story at 10:30. Democrats Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Colleen Hanabusa agree on a lot of important issues...like developing renewable energy, native Hawaiian self-determination or even the influence of the late Senator Daniel Inouye. obama footage But it didn't take long before they showed their differences... Schatz wholeheartedly supports President Obama, Hanabusa has some reservations. B -- 49:30 I'm proud to stand shoulder and shoulder with him, one of his strongest allies in the Senate. C -- 49:55 where I have parted with the president is with Syria and Iraq and that he invoked the war powers act just recently in his actions in Iraq the candidates also disagreed over the issue of national security 59:30-59:43 this is an area where colleen and I differ, against the reauthorization of foreign intelligence act, and it was for one simple reason -- it did not protect our privacy within the confines of the 4th amendment. I don't believe FISA was being administered properly and the surveillenance state has gone off the edge 7:01:50 "brian you have to start to read the bills, to really understand what you're talking about. You didn't vote to end FISA, you voted to give the president unlimited power just like george bush and chaney" But the gloves really came off as the candidates got a chance to ask the questions of each other... 2:25-2:40 you voted to approve the plan to cut social security and raise.... brian you misquote me again 7:04:30 "colleen you didn't answer the question because you took a bad vote" one of the biggest moments of the debate came from a question that didn't get an answer -- a question for Schatz's chief of staff and his involvement in a different campaign to keep former governor Ben Cayetano from being re-elected. 4:55 "what did you know about andy's deplorable smear as you call it and when did you know it?" Chad - reacts @1:00 Many viewers sent in questions through social media for this debate and now they are logging on to let us know what they thought about this clash of candidates and how revealing this debate really was. And there is still time to let us know what you think... just head to our facebook page to give us your comments. Lara will be back in just a few minutes with that. Yunji. It's sports time now with Robert Kekaula. 2 C1 A reminder KITV4 and Civil Beat dot com will host a LIVE debate in the democratic primary race for Representative Colleen Hanabusa's District 1 seat. 7 democrats will square off on Wednesday, July 23rd at 8:00 right here on KITV4. And THIS THURSDAY is the

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